The ever-increasing complexities of the financial world has created a demand that can only be satisfied by trained financial professionals. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects the addition of more than 750,000 business and financial occupations 2020-30. Here, we take a look at the best online finance degrees that could help meet the growing demand in the field.
Top 5 online schools for finance
The 25 best online bachelor’s in finance degrees
To provide the most relevant rankings for readers, we pull publicly available data from the most reputable sources. Read ZDnet’s ranking methodology to find out what information we used to create the below ranking of the best online bachelor’s in finance degrees. Miami, FL $228.81 in-state $345.87 out-of-state Application fee: $30 University Park, PA Application fee: $65 Commerce, TX $4,331.55 in-state $9,239.55 out-of-state Application fee: $75 Whitewater, WI Application fee: Free Crookston, MN Application fee: $30 Unless otherwise indicated, data is drawn from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System and College Scorecard.
Insights from a finance graduate
Lea Landaverde is a first-generation, queer Latina. She received her bachelor’s degree in finance from Dixie State University. She is the founder of The Riqueza Collective, a wealth coaching business; podcast host of Mi Riqueza Podcast; and a financial literacy professor for incarcerated youth.
Acceptance rate: 65%Graduation rate: 58%Annual net price: $7,296Years to degree: Four (part-time and accelerated schedules may be available)SAT range: 570-650Minimum GPA: 2.5Enrollment periods per year: ThreeCourse delivery methods: Online and asynchronous
Acceptance rate: 76%Graduation rate: 73%Annual net price: $27,372Years to degree: Four (part-time and accelerated schedules are available)SAT range: 540-640Minimum GPA: 2.0Enrollment periods per year: ThreeCourse delivery methods: Online and asynchronous
Acceptance rate: 43%Graduation rate: 55%Annual net price: $13,017Years to degree: Four (part-time schedules may be available)SAT range: 480-580Minimum GPA: 3.0Enrollment periods per year: ThreeCourse delivery methods: Online, synchronous and asynchronous
Acceptance rate: 79%Graduation rate: 63%Annual net price: $15,249Years to degree: Four (part-time schedules are available)SAT range: Not publicly availableMinimum GPA: Not publicly availableEnrollment periods per year: ThreeCourse delivery methods: Online and asynchronous
Acceptance rate: 68%Graduation rate: 56%Annual net price: $10,952Years to degree: Four (part-time and accelerated schedules are available)SAT range: Not publicly availableMinimum GPA: VariesEnrollment periods per year: TwoCourse delivery methods: Online and asynchronous
Acceptance rate: 64%Graduation rate: 77%Annual net price: $22,501Years to degree: Three to four (part-time and accelerated schedules may be available)SAT range: 590-680Minimum GPA: Not publicly availableEnrollment periods per year: FourCourse delivery methods: Online and asynchronous
Acceptance rate: 74%Graduation rate: 55%Annual net price: $16,953Years to degree: Four (part-time schedules may be available)SAT range: 560-680Minimum GPA: Not publicly availableEnrollment periods per year: ThreeCourse delivery methods: Online, synchronous and asynchronous
Acceptance rate: 85%Graduation rate: 47%Annual net price: $13,864Years to degree: Four (part-time schedules may be available)SAT range: 460-550Minimum GPA: 2.0Enrollment periods per year: TwoCourse delivery methods: Online and asynchronous
Acceptance rate: 84%Graduation rate: 35%Annual net price: $8,952Years to degree: Four (accelerated and part-time schedules may be available)SAT range: 493-583Minimum GPA: 2.0Enrollment periods per year: RollingCourse delivery methods: Online and asynchronous
Acceptance rate: 88%Graduation rate: 57%Annual net price: $16,725Years to degree: Four (part-time schedules may be available)SAT range: 520-620Minimum GPA: 2.5Enrollment periods per year: TwoCourse delivery methods: Online and asynchronous
Acceptance rate: 89%Graduation rate: 43%Annual net price: $6,848Years to degree: Four (part-time and accelerated schedules may be available)SAT range: 460-540Minimum GPA: 2.5Enrollment periods per year: ThreeCourse delivery methods: Online, synchronous and asynchronous
Acceptance rate: 74%Graduation rate: 70%Annual net price: $10,612Years to degree: Four (part-time and accelerated schedules may be available)SAT range: 510-600Minimum GPA: VariesEnrollment periods per year: ThreeCourse delivery methods: Online and asynchronous
Acceptance rate: 100%Graduation rate: 35%Annual net price: $10,855Years to degree: Four (part-time schedules may be available)SAT range: 490-560Minimum GPA: 2.0Enrollment periods per year: TwoCourse delivery methods: Online, asynchronous and synchronous
Acceptance rate: 88%Graduation rate: 47%Annual net price: $41,095Years to degree: Four (accelerated and part-time schedules are available)SAT range: Not publicly availableMinimum GPA: Not publicly availableEnrollment periods per year: RollingCourse delivery methods: Online and asynchronous
Acceptance rate: 89%Graduation rate: 58%Annual net price: $16,493Years to degree: Four (part-time and accelerated schedules are available)SAT range: 500-600Minimum GPA: Not publicly availableEnrollment periods per year: RollingCourse delivery methods: Online and asynchronous
Acceptance rate: 71%Graduation rate: 57%Annual net price: $25,483Years to degree: Four (part-time and accelerated schedules may be available)SAT range: 520-630Minimum GPA: Not publicly availableEnrollment periods per year: RollingCourse delivery methods: Online, asynchronous and synchronous
Acceptance rate: Not publicly availableGraduation rate: 46%Annual net price: Not publicly availableYears to degree: Four (part-time and accelerated schedules are available)SAT range: Not publicly availableMinimum GPA: 2.0Enrollment periods per year: RollingCourse delivery methods: Online and asynchronous
Acceptance rate: 56%Graduation rate: 57%Annual net price: $15,225Years to degree: Four (part-time and accelerated schedules may be available)SAT range: Not publicly availableMinimum GPA: 3.0Enrollment periods per year: ThreeCourse delivery methods: Online and asynchronous
Acceptance rate: 68%Graduation rate: 46%Annual net price: $22,248Years to degree: 3.5 (part-time and accelerated schedules are available)SAT range: 498-630Minimum GPA: Not publicly availableEnrollment periods per year: TwoCourse delivery methods: Online, asynchronous and synchronous
Acceptance rate: 45%Graduation rate: 56%Annual net price: $23,196Years to degree: Four (part-time schedules may be available)SAT range: 550-650Minimum GPA: 2.0Enrollment periods per year: TwoCourse delivery methods: Online and asynchronous
Acceptance rate: 83%Graduation rate: 65%Annual net price: $26,015Years to degree: Four (accelerated and part-time schedules are available)SAT range: 430-560Minimum GPA: Not publicly availableEnrollment periods per year: TwoCourse delivery methods: Online, asynchronous and synchronous
Acceptance rate: Not publicly availableGraduation rate: 28%Annual net price: $14,288Years to degree: Four (accelerated and part-time schedules are available)SAT range: Not publicly availableMinimum GPA: 2.0Enrollment periods per year: RollingCourse delivery methods: Online and asynchronous
Acceptance rate: Not publicly availableGraduation rate: 32%Annual net price: $26,730Years to degree: Four (part-time and accelerated schedules are available)SAT range: Not publicly availableMinimum GPA: Not publicly availableEnrollment periods per year: RollingCourse delivery methods: Online and asynchronous
Acceptance rate: 82%Graduation rate: 27%Annual net price: $16,098Years to degree: Four (part-time schedules are available)SAT range: Not publicly availableMinimum GPA: Not publicly availableEnrollment periods per year: SixCourse delivery methods: Online and asynchronous
Acceptance rate: 89%Graduation rate: 34%Annual net price: Not publicly availableYears to degree: Three to four (accelerated and part-time schedules are available)SAT range: 370-600Minimum GPA: 2.0Enrollment periods per year: RollingCourse delivery methods: Online and asynchronous
Lea has six-plus years of experience in the financial industry, including wealth management, investment banking, and financial literacy education. Her mission is to break generational money curses for BIPOC and LGBTQ+ through finding building wealth. Lea is also an advocate for mental health, immigrants, and BIPOC and LGBTQ+ rights. ZDNet: What’s a typical day for you, working in finance? Lea Landaverde: I coach clients to create relationships with money. Together, we implement healing mechanisms for their money mindsets, create budgets, identify spending habits, and create saving plans and debt strategies. However, when I’m not working with clients, I’m creating content for them through social media platforms with either collaborations or independent content. Additionally, I’m a professor who teaches basic personal finance topics like budgeting, career planning, and college planning. I use a lot of concepts of personal finance and investing theory. I also use my corporate finance knowledge from school, especially when working on my own financial reporting with my business. I am an entrepreneur, so I make my schedule. I like to keep it 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., or I split my days 9 a.m. to noon and noon to 5 p.m., depending on how busy I am. ZDNet: What are the most rewarding aspects of your career? What are the most challenging aspects of your career? LL: The most rewarding aspect of my career is that finance has so many aspects it touches on. I’ve been in wealth management through retirement planning and investment banking through client onboarding. I’ve gotten to work on building tech for the firm. Especially now, I get to work in education with coaching and teaching, and I’ve fallen in love with it. Find your niche that you enjoy! The most challenging aspect of my career is that the industry is made to be intimidating, which then pushes out minorities and women. The percentage of women and people of color in finance is small, but the more of us that enter, the more we challenge this system and fear of finance. ZDNet: What misconceptions do people have about majoring in finance, and what would you tell them? LL: Many people think there is just one sector of finance and that it has to do with investing, but that’s not the case. There are various sub-industries in finance, such as corporate finance, financial services, financial coaching, investment banking, financial operations, financial tech, wealth management, and many others. ZDNet: What was the most challenging course you took as a finance major? What advice would you give to students who are about to start this course? LL: The most challenging course I took was investing, especially when we got into the theory of returns on investments. A lot of statistics ends up being involved with portfolio returns and individual stock returns. My advice would be:
Decimals matter in formulas.The theory can be intimidating, but the application of it in one’s life or in a job doesn’t always get that technical, unless if you’re a financial engineer or in quantitative analysis.Most importantly, take time to study it. Don’t rush the concept.
What to expect in an online bachelor’s in finance degree program
Though bachelor’s in finance programs vary by specialization and teaching methods,most feature training in taxation, investments, and financial decision-making. Completing an online finance degree requires independent work, though classroom collaborations, practical assignments, and internships may still play a significant role. Online learners need to be self-motivated, proactive, and detail oriented. Finance degrees often combine theoretical and practical training, along with traditional instruction, group projects, presentations, and exams. In addition to electives, which allow learners to customize their training, many programs offer specialization paths such as international finance, financial management, and capital markets.
Finance courses
The following list highlights common courses found in finance degrees at the bachelor’s level. Financial accounting This course covers basic operations and processes involved in the typical accounting cycle. Students learn about financial statements, transactions, and general financial and accounting concepts. Income taxes In this course, students learn tax policies for individuals and organizations. They master preparing tax returns, analyzing taxes, and making adjustments. Financial planning principles This course teaches how to help individuals and organizations arrange their finances and plan for the future. The training delves into savings and investment strategies, asset management, and taxation. Investments In this course, learners look at investment strategies for individuals and corporations. The training examines portfolio management, diversification, security trading, and international investments.
Finance degree levels
Prospective students should set their sights on the degree that best fits their goals. Below, we provide details on various finance degree levels, highlighting what they offer and where they might lead.
Associate in finance
Length: Two years Cost: $11,389 per year Post-grad careers: Claims adjuster, accounting clerk, and insurance sales agent An associate finance degree usually covers the field’s fundamentals, preparing graduates for entry-level careers and further education. Students learn how to complete many basic financial duties within an organization and how to use finances to improve businesses’ operations and decision-making. Associate degrees often emphasize business foundations and general education, widely applicable training that can provide transfer credits if needed.
Bachelor’s in finance
Length: Four years Cost: $28,123 per year Post-grad careers: Accountant, financial examiner, and financial manager A finance bachelor’s degree prepares graduates for many entry-level business and financial occupations. The training at this level often explores business fundamentals so learners can apply their financial expertise to business operations. In addition to traditional instruction, these programs typically feature practical components, such as internships and simulations. Many bachelor’s programs also offer specialization options, allowing learners to channel their training toward a certain field or career.
Master’s in finance
Length: Two years Cost: $19,792 per year Post-grad careers: Budget analyst, financial analyst, and management analyst A finance degree at the master’s level delves into advanced financial theory, financial reporting, mathematics, and analysis. Students learn to support businesses through investing, financial decision-making, and different forms of analysis. A finance master’s usually incorporates research and practical components. Learners can typically choose a specialization. Graduates can pursue leadership positions, certifications, or further training.
Doctorate in finance
Length: 4-6 years Cost: $19,792 per year Post-grad careers: Postsecondary teacher, top executive, and compensation and benefits manager A doctoral finance degree focuses on theoretical and empirical research. Students search for new theories, approaches, and practical applications. Graduates can pursue teaching or research positions in academia, and leadership positions in business and regulatory environments. Ph.D. students usually concentrate their efforts and research on a specialization.
In conclusion
A finance degree offers flexibility in curricula, teaching methods, specializations, and career paths. Graduates can pursue professions in business, healthcare, or the government. Their knowledge can improve decisions, operations, and financial outcomes.
